Can She Say That? Signe Wilkinson Cartoons a Man’s World

To mark its 200th Anniversary, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is delighted to host Pulitzer Prize – winning editorial cartoonist Signe Wilkinson. Ms. Wilkinson will deliver a talk entitled “Can She Say That? Signe Wilkinson Cartoons A Man’s World”, providing an overview of her own career and the history of political cartooning. This event serves as the celebratory reception to debut the exhibit Cartoons as Political Speech in Colonial and Contemporary America. Organized by Dr. David R. Brigham, HSP’s Librarian and CEO, this exhibit highlights HSP’s strategic collecting theme, Pennsylvania: Crucible of the Nation, which traces the important role that the Commonwealth has played throughout American history in shaping our nation’s development.

On view from June 11 through August 2, Cartoons as Political Speech in Colonial and Contemporary America touches on Philadelphia’s role in late colonial and Revolutionary politics, burgeoning publishing and print culture, and transatlantic commerce and communication. Brigham says, “HSP’s collection of political cartoons is a visually rich and interesting record of the struggle to form the new nation, the emergence of partisan politics, and the dynamic role of Philadelphia at the end of the 18th century. We are delighted that Signe Wilkinson has lent her original artwork to add a contemporary lens on the tradition of cartooning.”

• This event is being offered in a hybrid format. Both onsite and virtual tickets are available. All ticket reservations will include a Zoom link, but only onsite tickets will be honored at the door.
• Onsite tickets include admission to the talk, a reception afterwards, and the exhibit Cartoons as Political Speech in Colonial and Contemporary America
• We wish to provide complimentary tickets to current secondary, undergraduate, and graduate students. Please email us at programs@hsp.org and tell us where you are enrolled as a student and in what program.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) commemorates its 200th birthday in 2024! Since our founding, we have collected and preserved an astonishing array of documents that bring the people of the past into conversation with us today. We enter our third century eager to invite you to find yourself in history. To connect with the past and make meaningful discoveries about who you are and who we are together. Join us in this endeavor to explore our shared American history. Visit us at hsp.org/200.

Support for HSP’s 200th anniversary programming is generously provided by the Richard C. von Hess Foundation.